Heather Howell

Director of Innovation, Brown-Forman Corporation

Heather Howell

Director of Innovation, Brown-Forman Corporation

Heather Howell’s desire to inspire her children and fear of failure power her in selecting her projects and in growing beverage brands.

As director of innovation for Brown-Forman Corporation, Howell is responsible for developing the global portfolio expansion strategy and acts as brand leader for Collingwood, a premium blended Canadian whiskey. Howell joined Brown-Forman in 2015.

She previously worked for Rooibee Red Tea, where she served as chief tea officer, CEO and, board member, helping take the organic tea brand from the farmers market to the national market.

Howell has been recognized numerous times, including Ernst & Young’s 2013 E.D.G.E. Award, a 2014 Enterprising Woman to Watch Award from Business First, and a 2013 finalist for the Business Leader of the Year Award. She is also president emeritus of the National Association of Women MBAs and serves on the board of Republic Bank.

She resides in Louisville with her husband, Dr. Steven Howell, a pediatric eye surgeon, and their two children: son,Teague, and daughter,Juliana. A favorite quote of Heather’s is “You make time for what is important; I will rest when I am in the grave.”